Sublimating apparatus



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sentarme nrr'aaa'rus application ledl November 7, 19ml. serial No. m3,?.

.To-all it may concern: d v Be it known that l, ROBERT M. Conn, a

Il citizen of the UnitedStates ot' America, and

a resident of Sandusky, county of Erie, and State of hio, have invented a new and useful lmprovement' in Sublimating Apparatus, of which the following is a'specification.4

The main objects of this invention are to :provide an improved form of apparatus for use in obtaining certain chemical substances by a process of sublimation; to provide an improved apparatus for this purpose wherein the crude material is fed into the apparatus continuously and the vapors and the `waste products are likewise extracted from the apparatus simultaneously; to provide an improved construction and arrangement of the vapcrizing mechanism; to. provide improved leans `for delivering the crude material and admittin it to the vaporizing mechanism; to provi e improved means for extracting the wastefmaterial from the vaporizing mechanism; yto provide an improved construction andarrangement of the chamber wherein'the vapors are solidified; to. prc- Y vide improved means for adjusting the apparatus so as toregulate the velocity of the dow ofthe luid substance through the vaporizing mechanism; and to provide an aplill paratus of this kind which is 'simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction,

easy and economical in operation' and highly efficient in production.

AAn illustrative embodiment 'ot this invention is shown inthe accompanying drawings in which the igurerepresents diagrammatically a sublimating apparatus constructed in I accord-ance'with this invention. 1

apparatus embodying this invention involved the use of a cylindrical member wherein is 4arranged a heating element with which the crude material entering at one end of the member-is brought into intimate oontact as it is caused to travel toward the opposite end oit said member from which the remaining waste product is extracted, the vapors in the meantime being subject to the action of a hot-air current entering at said opposite end ot said member and absorbing 'the vapors and forcing themV out through said one end into a suitable chamber wherein thev vapors are chilled so that the desired product solidties and'fall's tothe bottom ci the chamber from whence it is discharged into the usual receptacles. d The invention is particularly designed. for -sublimating naphth'alene although it is equally suitable for use 1n subllmating other sublimable substances such` as vbenzoic acid, pbthalic acid, etc.

ln thev 'illustrative embo' iment herein showmthe apparatus comprises a Vaporizing mechanism l, a solidiying chamber 2.

anda waste-products' extracting mechanism 3.

'lhe vaporizing mechanism is a long cylindrical member made up of a plurality of lpipes 4 and a drum 5 rigidly secured together in axial alinement and rotatably supported in a nearly horizontal position on bearmgs 6, 7 and 8. These bearings are mounted on pillars or Walls so as to locate the. mechanism a certain distance above lthe Hoor and are relatively arranged so that the member is slightly inclined to the horizontal whereby the liquid crude material entering at the right hand end will gradually iiow therealong toward the drum 5. Associated with the bearings 6, 7 and 8 are suitable means, herein shown in the form of jack screws 9 and 10 for the bearings 6 and 7 for use in altering the inclination ofthe pipes 4 and 'drum 5 whereby to regulate the velocity of the flow of the liquid through the end ofthe pipe 4 and provides support for the stuiiing box l2 to which the steam and crude material -inlets are connected. Suitable apertures are formed iri the head 11 to permit. the escape of vapors from the pipe 4 into the solidifying chamber 2.

' The drum 5 being of muchlarger diameter thanlthe pipe 4 locates the bottom of the drum so much lower than the bottom o the pipe that'the drum provides a pit for the waste material to flow intof'rom which it" is extractedby mechanism hereinafter de- 7scribed. d

A- heating element 13 in the form of a vsteam coil is arranged within thelpipes 4 in tot close proximity` to the inner peripheries thereof. As hereinshown this coil is spiraly llll althou h-it may consist of-lateral runs of pipe.

ply tank 16. These pipes are connected to the stuiiing box 12 through whicht-hey extend to the interior of the pipe 4. The other end of the coil connects with a pipe 17 which forms a. ste-am jacket for the wasteproducts outlet pipe 18, and from the lowest point in said steam jacket a pipe leads to a steam trap 19. These pipes 17 and 18 extend through a stuiiing box 20 in the end ot the drum 5.

Through the medium of the nozzles 21 a hot-air blast is injected into the vaporizing mechanism so as to absorb the vapors and cause a movement thereof along the pipes 4, counter to the movement of the incoming crude material, and out through the vapor outlet openings in the head 11 into the condensing chamber 2. These nozzles are rotatably connected to a header 22 which leads to a suitable source of heated air under pressure. At intervals along the pipes 4, bailes 23 may be arranged forthe purpose'of retarding the fiovv of air through said pipes and deecting it outwardly against the periphery of the chamber. 'A heat-resisting covering' 24 of asbestos or other material surrounds the pipes 4 so as to retard as much as possible the dissipation of heat generated in the va orizinc mechanism 1.

The solidifying chamber 2 is located at the end of the vaporizing mechanism so as to receive the vapors as discharged through apertures in the head 11. This chamber is f )suitably chilled either by means of a condenser 2 or a cold-air blast (the latter of Which is not herein shown) in order to cause a solidifying and consequent precipitation `of the sublimate. This chamber is provided with an outlet 25 through Which the sublimate may be discharged and conveyed to the usual receptacles in which it is to be stored or4 shipped. A flexible partition 38 extends from the head 11 to the surrounding Wall of the chamber 2 sovl as to completely cut off any communication of the' chamber With the exterior thereof.

The driving mechanism for rotating the vaporizing mechanism comprises a sprocket 26 arranged on the" drum 5 and connected by a chain 27 to a sinaller sprocket 28 mounted 0n a shaft 29. The shaft 29 is connected with a suitable source of power.

. The Waste-material extracting mechanism 3 comprises the pipe 18 enclosed in the steam j-acket pipe 17 extending int-o the drum 5 throughthe stufling box 2() and having the end 30 thereof disposed axially and opening close to the bottom of the left hand end of the drum 5. The pipe 18 is connected to receiving cylinders 31 which in 'turn are contconnects with a. steam supply pipe 14 which forms a stea-m jacket for the crude j material inlet pipe 15 leading from'. the supnected to a pipe 32 leading to a vacuum pump. Three-way valves 33 ajnd 34 are arranged between the pipe 18 and the cylinders 3l' and between the cylinders 31 and the pipe 32 respectively, whereby one at a time the cylinders 3l may be connected in between the-vacuum pump and the pipe 18. The cylinders 31 are each equipped with a gauge 35, which enables the operator to observe the quantity of material therein, and with an air vent 3G which may be opened when it is desired to drain the respective cylinder through the valve controlled outlets 37.

The foregoing apparatus is supplemented by suitable alkali and acid washing mechanism similar to that which is now used for preparing the crude product for sublimation in the flame heated retorts by which sublimation has heretofore been carried on.

The operation of the devicev herein shown and described is substantially as follows: The washed crude material is delivered to the supply tank 1G in any convenient manner from which it is conveyed through the pipe 14 to the right hand end of the vaporizing mechanism l. A valve 39 may be used to control the flow of crude material. Live steam admitted to the steam jacket 14 from the pipe 40 keeps the crude material passing through the pipe 15 in a liquid state and passing through the coil 13 provides the necessary heat for vaporizing the crude product passing through the pipes 4. As the steam flows from the coil 13 to the steam jacket pipe 17 it keeps the waste products iowing out through the pipe 18 in a liquid state.

The pipes 4 and drum 5 are gradually rotated so that as the liquid flows along the inclined pipes 4 it is also caused to travel up around the periphery and drop olf onto the steam coil 13. The heat vaporizes the desined chemical which is absorbed by the heated air entering through the nozzles 21 and is caused to flow out through the apertures in the head 1l into the solidifying chamber 2. Here the vapors come in contact with the chilled air resulting in a solidification and precipitation of the sublimate which may be discharged through the opening 25 into receptacles. i

The three-way valves 33 and 34 are set so that one at a time the receiving cylinders Ell are placed in circuit with the vacuum pump. This causes the waste products accumulating in the bottom of the drum 5 to be sucked in through pipe 18 and into the corresponding receiver 31. By means of the gauge 35 the operator can observe when the receiver is nearly full of waste product whereupon the valves 33 and 34 are shifted so as to place the other receiver 31 in circuit with the pump. Thereupon the vent 3G is opened and the contents of the receiver allowed to drain outthrough the valve controlled outlet 37.

If the products being sublimated requires maaar/o more or less rapid dow through the pipes Li the inclination thereof is adjusted accordingly by actuating the jack screws 9 and 10 and the jack screws (not shown)4 arranged in conjunction with the bearings 8.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention' has been herein shownand described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be alteredor omitted without'departing from the spirit ofthis invention as defined by the following claims.

l claim:

l. An apparatus of thel class described comprising a long cylindrical member providing va vaporizing chamber disposed substantially. horizontal, a heating element arranged within said chamber and extending lengthwise thereof, a crude-material inlet arranged adjacent o-ne end of said member, vapor outlet also arranged in said member adjacent one end'thereof, means for causing the crude material to travel axially along said member and around the periphery thereo-f toward said other end, in close proximity to 4 saidi heating. element, and means for separately extracting the vapors and the waste products from said member.

2. An apparatus of the class described,v the combination of a long cylindrical member providing a vaporizing chamber disposed in a horizontally inclined position, bearings supporting 'said member whereby it may be rotated, a crude-material inlet arranged adjacent one end of said member, a vapor-outletA Aarranged in\4 said member adjacent one end thereof, a heating element arranged within said chamber and extendr)ing lengthwise thereof, means for rotating Said member so as to cause said crude material to move axially along said member and around the periphery thereof, and means for extracting the vapors from one end and the Waste products said member.

3. An apparatus ofthe class described, the combination of a long cylindrical member providing a vaporizingv chamber disposed in a horizontally inclined position, bearings supporting said member whereby it may be from the opposite 'end of rotated, a crude-material inlet arranged adjacent one'end of said member, a vapor outlet' arranged in' said member adjacent one end thereof, a heating elementl arranged within said chamber and extending lengthwise thereof, means for rotating saidl member so as to cause said crude material to move axially along said member andiaround the periphery thereof, means for extracting the vapors from one end and the waste products from the opposite end of said member, and means for varying the inclination of said member.

4. An apparatus of the class described, the combination of a long cylindrical member providing a vaporizing chamber disposed in a horizontally inclined position, bearings supporting said member whereby it may be rotated, a crude-material inlet arranged adjacent one end of said member, a vapor outlet also arranged 1n said member adjacent one `end thereof, a steam coll arranged 1n said chamber in close proximity to the pe riphery thereof, means 4for rotating said member so as to cause said crude material to move axially along said member and around the periphery thereof, and means for extracting the vapors from one end and the waste products from the opposite end of said member.

5.` An apparatus of the class described comprising a long cylindrical member pro viding a vaporizing chamber disposed sul stantially horizontal, a heating element arranged within said chamber and extending lengthwise thereof, a crude-material inlet arranged adjacent one end of said member,

a vapor outlet also arranged in said member adjacent one end thereof, means for causing the crude material to travel axially along said member and around the periphery thereof toward said other end in close proximity to said heating element, said member being shaped at the opposite end thereof so that the bottom of the chamber in said end is below the bottom of the chamber in the remaining part of sal said memberthereby providing a pit for receiving the waste products, a. suction pipe extending into said opposite end of said vmember and having the end thereof located near the bottom of said chamber, said pipe being adapted to be connected to al suction pump, and means for extracting the vapors from said chamber.

6. An apparatus of the class described, thgcombination of a long cylindrical membe providing a vaporizing' chamber disposed in a horizontally inclined position, bearingssupporting said member whereby it may be rotated, a crude-material inlet arranged adjacent one end of said member, a

-va-por outlet also arranged in said member adjacent one end thereof, a heating element arranged within saidchamber and Vextending lengthwise thereof, means' for rotating said member so as to cause said crude mate' 'rial to move axially along said member and .around the periphery thereof, a drum connected'to the other end of saldi cylindrical member and forming a continuation thereof and being rotatable therewith, a suction pipe -extending into said drum axially thereof.

and having a radially disposed end with the opening therein located adjacent to the bottom of the chamber in said drum, said pipe being adapted to be connected toa suction pump, and means for extracting the va pors from' said chamber.

7. An apparatus of the class described comprising a lmember providing a Vaporizing chamber, a heating element arranged` within said chamber, a crude material inlet arranged adjacent one end of said member, a vapor outlet also arranged adjacent one end thereof, means for causing the crude material to travel alongsaid heating element,\ineans for separately extracting the vapors and tlie'\'aste products from said chamber, a vchamber communicating' with said Vapor outlet, and means for chilling said chamber to cause the soliditying of vapors discharged from said member.

8. An apparatus of the class described, the combination of a long cylindrical member providing'a vaporizing chamber disposed in a horizontallyvv inclined position, bearings supporting said member whereby it may be rotated. a crude-material inlet ar ranged adjacent one end ot'` said member, a vapor outlet arranged in said member adjacent ,onel end thereof` a hotair blast inlet arranged adjacent the end ol said member opposite the end in which said vapor outlet is located and arranged to force vapors ont through said vapor outlet, a heating element arranged within said chamber and extending lengthwise thereof, means for rotating said member so as to cause said crude material to move axially along said member and around the peripheryv thereof, and means for extracting the waste products from the opposite end of said member.

9. An apparatus of the class described, the combination ot' a long cylindrical member providing a vaporizing chamber disposed in a horizontally inclined position, bearings supporting said member whereby it may be rotated, a crude-material inlet arranged adjacentone end ot' said member, a vapor outlet also arranged in said member adjacent said one end thereof, a steam coil arranged in said chamber in close proximity to the periphery thereof, a hot-air blast inlet arranged adjacent Ato the other end ot' said member and arranged to force vapors out through said vapor outlet, means for rotating Said member so as to cause said crude material to move axially along said member and around the periphery thereof',

' and means for extracting the Waste products from the opposite end of said member.

Signed at Sandusky, Ohio, this second day of November, 1921.

ROBERT M. COLE. 

